Electrically-heated valve.



(2.1. HINSHAW L R. L. GABLE.

EL'ECTRICALLY HEATED VALVE. APPLICATION msu Avn. t2. m11.

1 ,240,449. PatentedSept. 18, 1917.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLAUDE J. HINSHAW AND ROY L. G BLE, 0F SHELBY VILLE, INDIANA.

ELECTRICALLY-HEATED VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 18, 191 7 Application filed April 12, 1917. Serial No. 161,561.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, CLAUDE J. HiNsHAw and ROY L. GABLE, citizens of the United States, residin at Shelbyville, in the county of Shelby an State of Indiana, have in vented certain nevi1 and useful Improvements in Electrically-Heated Valves, of which the following is a specification.

The resent invention relates to butteriiy valves or internal combustion engines, and the primary object is to provide a valve of this type with novel means of a simple and effective character, whereby the same can be heated to insure vaporization of the mixture prior to its entrance into the engine, the clevice being particularly useful in starting wllin the engine and associated parts are co A further object is to provide mechanism of this character that will not interfere with the ordinary operation of the valve, and also to provide an improved valve of this type which can be used with practically any type of engine.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereinz- Figure 1 is a detail view showing in outline a carbureter and a manifold intake to an engine with the improved valve in place therein. .r

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale through the valve structure,

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the same.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on the line 4.-4. 0f Fig. 3.

Similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the embodiment illustrated, the valve which is designated generally by the reference numeral 5, is of the usual disk type, and comprises a pairof sections 6 suitably secured together and inclosin a chamber 7. In this chamber is located an lnsulating support 8 preferably in the form of a orcelain spool having a concaved edge 9. he sup port is a pin 10 extending across the chamber. On the support is mounted an electrical heatin element 11 preferably in the form of a coiseated in the peripheral groove 9 and having one terminal grounded, as illustrated at 12, upon the valve. The other end of the coil is connected to a terminal 13 carried by the spool insulator support 8.

Projecting from the edge of the valve is a suitable trunnion 14, the inner end being seated in a socket 15 formed in said edge, and being held therein by asuitable set screw 16. To this trunnion is fixed any well known type of operatin mechanism, a portion of a crank arm 17 being illustrated.

Projecting from the diametrically opposite portion of the valve disk to that carrying the trunnion 14, is another trunnion generally designated by the reference numeral 18. This trunnion consists of a shell 19 of metal inclosing a core 2O of insulating material. The inner end of the trunnion is reduced, as shown at 2l, and is iittcd in a socket 22 formed in the margin of the valve disk. A set screw 23 detachably secures the trunnion in place. The outer end of the trnnnion is enlarged, as shown at 24, to form a chamber 25 having an insulating lining 26 provided with an outer end Wall 27.

A conductor rod 28 is slidably mounted in the trunnion, being disposed axially and having its inner end detachably bearing against the terminal 13 of the heater coil. This conductor rod asses through the chamber 25 and is provided with a collar 29 located at the inner end of the chamber. A coil spring 30, surrounding the rod and arranged within said chamber, bears at one end against the collar 29 and at its other end against the wall 27. It will thus be seen that the conductor rod is yieldingly held in electrical engagement with the terminal 13, and also that the trunnion can rotate around saidprod.

On the outer end of the conductor rod is xed a head 31 of insulating material secured to said rod by a set screw 33 and having a socket 34 in its outer end, into which the conductor rod extends. A suitable binding post 35 is fitted upon said head and is designed to receive a conductor 36 leading from any suitable source of electrical supl ply. Preferably a rubber or other cap 37 is fitted upon the head so as to substantially cover the socket.

ln Fig. 1 there is illustrated a carbureter at 3S, from which leads a manifold 39, and the valve 5 is shown in this manifold, merely to indicate one manner of using the device.

It will, of course, be understood that the location and arrangement of the valve may be varied as desired.

To place this device in position, it will be evident that all that is necessary is to detach the trunnions, form suitable holes in the manifold, insert the valve Within the said manifold, and pass the trunnions through the openings. The trunnions are then secured to the valve by the set screws, and the device can be electrically connected up to a storage battery or other source of electrical energy, as desired. It will be understood that when current is passed through the heater coil 11, the valve will be heated, so that a mixture impinging against the same or -passing it will also be heated and vaporization insured. The control of the heating may be effected by a switch and arrangements may also be made as will be evident to those skilled in the art, whereby any desired amount of current can be admitted so as to heat the valve to a greater or less degree. The operation of the valve will not a'ect the electrical connections, inasmuch as the heating element can turn with respect to the conductor rod 28, and said rod will be yieldingly and constantly held in contact with the terminal 13 of said heating element.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion and minor details of construction, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character set forth, the combination with a valve having an electric heater therein, of means for turning the valve, and a bea-ring member for said valve, including an electrical conductor for the heater having a rotatable connection therewith.

2. In a device of the character set forth, the combination with a valve having an electric heater therein, of a bearing, a trunnion for the valve, and a conductor for the heater extending longitudinally within the trunnion and connected to said heating element, said conductor and trunnion being relatively rotatable.

3. In a device of the character set forth, the combination with a valve having a trunnion, of an electric heating element in the valve provided with a terminal, and a conductor slidable in the trunnion and engaged with the terminal.

4. In a device of the character set forth, the combination with a valve having a trunnion, of an electric heating element in the valve provided with a terminal, a conductor slidable in the trunnion and engaged with the terminal, and means for yieldingly urging the conductor into engagement with the terminal.

5. In a device of the character set forth, the combination with a valve having a trunnion, of an electric heating element in the valve provided with a terminal, a conductor slidable in the trunnion and having a bear ing on the terminal, said trunnion and con ductor being relatively rotatable, and a spring bearing against the conductor to yieldingly urge the same into engagement withl the terminal.

6. In a device of the character set forth, the combination with a vali'e having an internal chamber, of an electric heating element therein having a terminal, oppositely projecting removable trunnions for the valve, a device connected to one trunnion for turning the valve, a conductor slidablv and rotatably engaged in the other trunnion, a spring for urging said conductor inwardly into engagement with the terminal, and means for conducting a lead wire to the outer end of the conductor.

7. In a device of the character set forth, the combination with a valve having an internal chamber, of an insulatingT support located in said chamber, between the side walls thereof and spaced from the outer annular walls` and an electric heating coil mounted on the peripheral portion of the support and surrounding the same.

In testimony whereof, we aflix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

CLAUDE J. HINSHAVV. ROY L. GABLE.

Witnesses:

HARRY H. Davison, THos. J. GREEN.

Copies of this patent may be! obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

